Indian captain Rohit Sharma emphasized that a few poor sessions do not define the character of the team, addressing the loss to New Zealand in the first Test of the series. India was bowled out for 46 in their first innings, conceding a massive 356-run lead, but fought back valiantly in the second innings before eventually succumbing to an eight-wicket defeat.
“I’m not going to judge this team based on three hours of bad cricket,” Rohit said. “We played some excellent cricket after that, especially with the bat in the second innings. Despite the loss, there were several positives to take away from the match.”
India’s second innings was powered by an aggressive approach, with Sarfaraz Khan scoring a scintillating 150 and Rishabh Pant adding a quick 99. Their 177-run partnership off 211 balls gave India hope of an unlikely comeback. Reflecting on this effort, Rohit praised the team’s resilience.
“It’s easy to let a game drift when you’re so far behind, but this team fought hard to stay in the contest. At one stage, it felt like we were ahead despite starting 356 runs behind. That shows the clear, fearless mindset we aim to maintain,” Rohit said.
India scored at nearly four runs per over in the second innings, with Sarfaraz and Pant displaying audacious strokeplay. “When you’re behind, you need to press harder and take risks. We don’t want to fear losing; we want to explore every way to win,” Rohit explained.
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, who scored 130 of his 173 runs against spin at a strike rate of 100, was a key difference-maker in the match. Rohit acknowledged the challenges posed by the opposition, crediting Ravindra for his effective counter-attacking approach.
“Our spinners gave everything they had, but Rachin played exceptionally well. He understood what we were trying to do and stayed true to his game,” Rohit noted. “This is something we expect when quality players come to play in India.”
Looking ahead, Rohit reinforced India’s commitment to an aggressive and consistent mindset, irrespective of the match situation. “Whether we’re ahead or behind, we’ll keep looking to put the opposition under pressure. That’s the hallmark of this team.”
India will aim to level the series in the second Test, set to be played on a slow turner in Pune.
Updated on 20th October, 2024 by MyFortune11